Eyeset and the like for dolls and the like



June 19, 1934. D. ZAIDEN EYESET AND THE LIKE FOR DOLLS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEYS.

June 19, 1934. o. ZAIDEN EYESET AND THE LIKE FOR DOLLS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE EYESET AND THE LIKE FOR DOLLS AND THE LIKE Zaiden, deceased Application January 16, 1933, Serial No; 651,914

21 Claims.

My invention relates to movable eyes and eyelids for dolls heads and the like, that is to say, to eyes and eyelids which wink (open and close) or otherwise move more or less in simulation of the movements of human eyes and eyelids.

It provides an eyeset composed of a relatively few easily made parts; also an eyeset of such a construction that its constituent parts are readily assembled together; further, it provides an eyeset that is readily and quickly assembled with or set in the head. It also provides an eyeset construction wherein the movable members, eyes or eyelids, although carried and set in the head as a unit, are readily adapted, in an improved manner, to any misplacement there may be of the eye sockets in the head, and to any difference there may be in the frazing of the two sockets, that is to say, differences arising from the grind ing or smoothing of the surfaces of the sockets against which the eyes or lids bear; and furthermore it provides an eyeset construction wherein the movable members automatically adapt themselves to any change of position of one eye socket with respect to the other that may result from a swelling or contraction of the head From a broad aspect, it is immaterial to my invention whether the eyes roll from side to side, or whether the eyes or lids simply wink as the doll or puppet is laid down and raised erect; or both roll and wink.

Generally speaking, the movable members of my eyeset are mounted on a bridge or support and this is drawn toward the front of the head by a resilient strap as it were, that is to say, by a resilient member or members under longitudinal tension. Preferably the bridge or support is engaged by the strap at at least two points, one at each side of the middle of the bridge or support. The forward movement of the bridge or support and the members mounted on it are limited by a stop or stops conducing to, or at least not interfering with, the movement of the movable eyes or lids; when the eyes alone move {(without independent movement of the lids), the eye sockets formed in the head may themselves act as these stops, the eyes being drawn into their sockets by the strap; the engagement of the eyes with the sockets is of course sufiiciently light to permit of the desired movement or movements. The strap may, and usually will, act more or less as a carrier for the bridge or support, and hence for the movable, members. It may assume various forms; illustrative forms are shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention also involves an improvement in the mounting of eyelashes, the latter being clasped to the eyelids in a manner permitting ready manufacture and ready assembly of the lids and lashes with the remainder of the apparatus.

Still other features of my invention appear hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred and representative forms of my invention: Fig. 1 is an elevation of the form of my eyeset at present preferred, including the simulation of the teeth and interior of the mouth. Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is a perspective of a detail of the mounting of the eyes. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one of the eye-balls and eyelids, showing also the mounting of the eyelash. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the eyelids of each of the preceding figures, looking at the same from the back, and illustrating particularly the mounting of the lash. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of the support for the eyes and lashes of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view substantially on the. line VII-VII of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of still another modification. Fig. 9 is a sectional view substantially on the line IXIX of Fig. 8, a corresponding section of the head being included.

In the particular embodiments of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the eyes or eyeballs 1 per se, together with their applied lids 2, together constitute the movable members of the eyeset per se, the eyes and lids as a unit rolling on a normally-horizontal axis (the center line of the connecting bridge or support 3 of the eyes and lid) so that the eyes simulate closing as the doll is laid down on its back, and opening of the eyes as the doll is held erect again. It will be understood of course that all this is subjeet to considerable modification. The movable members may be attached to the bridge or support 3 in various ways. Preferably (where the eyes and lids move together as a unit as before indicated) Imount each eye 1 in its own lid member 2, and support the lid member 2 on the bridge or support 3 directly; and preferably this is done by means of a few fingers 4 left extending from the back edge of each eyelid and bent over or into each eyeball, together with a back strap 5 extending from and integral with the back edge of the lid, this strap extending across the back of the eye 1, and provided with integral fingers 6 as may be necessary to grasp the eye.

As is well understood, the eye or eyeball 1 itself may consist simply of a hemisphere, as here illustrated, and the strap 5 then extends straight across the back edge of the associated eye (Figs. 1 and 4). To attach the back strap 5 to. the support, carrier or shaft 3, I prefer to pass a narrow plate 7 behind the back strap 5, extending its two ends 8 and 9 over the two edges of this back strap, and pierce these two ends 8 and 9 to receive the bridge or carrier 3 (Figs. 1 and 4) the plate may be riveted to the back strap 5 as indicated at 10, and if the two bent over ends 8 and 9 are spaced far enough apart, this rivet 10 will permit the eye and lid together to be adjusted angularly around the center line of the rivet; by pressing the two ends 8 and 9 down tight against the carrier or shaft 3, and the latter against the back surface of the back strap 5, the eyecan be attached quite sufficiently tightly to the carrier or support 3. The foregoing is the eye, lid and bridge or carrier construction which I regard as preferable, but it will be understood that this construction is not altogether essential to the invention, except as may appear hereinafter in the claims.

The longitudinally resilient strap may assume various forms. In the preferred construction of Figs. 1 to 3, this strap is composed of a body portion 14 and two separate lengths of coiled spring wire 15 and 16 forming loops by which the two ends of the strap are adapted for attachment to the head. Principally the body portion 14 comprises a perforated ear or ears 17 and 18 (preferably two ears, one at each side of the middie of the bridge or carrier shaft 3) and means -19 to which the ends of the spring members 15 head, one above and one below the line joining the eye sockets 23 (so thatthe strap extends across the support or bridge 3 transversely, and at about the middle, of the latter), and insert 1 into each of these holes 21 and 22 a plug 24 bearing or fastening in place a metal hook 25. The plug may consist of thematerial of the hook itself, folded if desired (Fig. 2), or consist of cork or othermaterial (Fig. 9). The plugs and hooks may be inserted before the back portion of the head is attached to the forward portion (if the head is made in two parts divided vertically), and glue or other cement may be used if desired to assure the retention of the plugs in the holes.

As may be necessary, the head may be provided withprojecting bosses 13, or otherwise thickened as may be necessary to provide adequate material for supporting the hook-projections 25, for example, as illustrated at 26. The portions of the hooks 25 engaging with the spring members 15 and 16, may be rather wide, as illustrated in Fig. 1; that is to say it is not necessary that the springs 15am 16 and their respective supporting-projections '25 cooperate like pivots. Instead of att'achingfeach spring'member 15 and 16 to the body portion 14 of the strap individually, a single coil spring'27 may be employed (Figurefi), thispas'sing through say circular loops 28' integral with or 'attached toears 29 and 30 serving the same purpose as the cars 17 and 18 of the preceding figures, and these together constitute the body portion of the strap. The body loops 28 may be large enough topermit the body portion to. slide. on the coil spring 27, the tension of the spring 2'7 (like that of the springs 15 and 16) thrusting the eyes 1 and applied lids 2 (in the present instance) into engagement with'the eye sockets 23 and thus positioning the combined member 1, 2 and 3 vertically. Another form of strap is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. In this form the body portion consists of two similar members, each'composed of two perforated arms 34 through which the bridge 36 passes, together with a joining member 37. having a transversely projecting arm 38 ending in a turned over or otherwise shouldered end 39. In sliding engagement with each of the projecting arms 38, a member 40 attaches the body portion to the projection 41, hooked or otherwise, on the interior of the head, each of these sliding members 40 being provided with a turnedover end or other abutment 42, and a coil spring 43, tensioned to thrust the two ad jacent shoulders. or abutments 39 and 42 away from each other, being, provided between adjacent shoulders or abutments 39 and, 42, Evidently the tensions of the springs 43 tend to contract the strap longitudinally, just as the ten sions of the springs 15, 16 and 27 tend to contract the length of the straps of the preceding figures, and hence retain the eyes and lids 1 and.

2 in their sockets. The construction of Figs. 8

and 9 also illustrates another form of bridge or support for the eyes, the bridge or support 36 being generally in the form of a U-shapedmember carrying the movable members 1 and 2 at its two ends, and at its lower end being provided with the weight 44 by which the two eyes are made to seem to open and close as the doll is moved to an. erectposition or laid down. In the constructionsv Usually it is desirable to provide the eye with,

eyelashes. Thismay be; done in various waysalready known. Preferably. however I-provide the back edge of the lid 2 with projecting fingers 56 (two of these fingers is sufficient usually) integral with the body of the lid 2, and bend these. in-

Wardly against the. lash member, which usuallyhas the form of a layerof paper 51 to which the hairs v 52 of the lash'are glued. The fingers 50; are intended to permanentlypressthe ,lash'mem, ber into engagement withthebody portioniofthe lid 2, as appearsfrom Figures 4 and 5, and hence the form assumed by the lash member itself as it is adapted for thistype of connection to the body of the lid. This particular mode-of mount, ing the eyelash member. permits the. eyelash member to be assembled with the lid quite easily; specifically, before the eye is assembled with the lid, and hence. while the seat for the eyelash is not eatly material to the invention, so .1 ,j

member is quite open and accessible,=andthe eyelash, being assembled with andthus attached to the eyelid, the twofrom thence on are;readily complete. device. In order to rendenthe (forward) contour of the combined lid-andeyeball; more nearly sphericahthe wall.of the eyeball may be indentedto form a pocket of pockets more or handled. as aunitinthefurther assembly of the I less completely containing the fingers 50, as indicated at 53 in Figs. 1 and 4.

I have illustrated also a member 55 which simulates the interior of the mouth; this is suitably formed at its middle portion to simulate the desired part of the interior of the head, and at its outer edges, or at least at those edges adjacent the four points 56, this member 55 is dished backwardly as it were, as will be apparent from Figures 1 and 2. Ordinarily, the outside surface of this member 55 will be painted pink, the color of the interior of the head; and if desired members simulating teeth 5'7 may be riveted or otherwise attached to the member 55, and thus assembled therewith as a unit. To attach this interior member 55 to the head, I provide a socket to receive the member and engage at least the dished edges 56. It is not necessary to provide a socket engaging the entire periphery of the member 55; in fact I prefer to provide only a partial socket, engaging the member 55 at points 56 only, that is to say, for example, four portions 58 projecting inwardly from the interior surface of the head to engage the member 55 at the four points 56. These four points 58 being located a very little closer together than the four points 56 of the member 55 in its normal condition outside the head, the member 55 is readily pressed into position between the four projections 58, with some slight frictional contact, but should a child for example attempt to force this member 55 back into the interior of the head again, it is evident that the frictional engagement of 56 with 58 would increase with the strain imposed on the member 55, and thus the member 55 is held in its desired position against substantially any force likely to be applied to it to thrust it back into the interior of the head.

The manner of setting the eyeset in a head, and the operation of the devices illustrated, will be understood from the foregoing. In brief, the hooks or other supporting projections 25 and 41, may be formed when the front portion of the head is made, or cast into it at the time or ap .plied later, say just before the back portion or the head is joined to the front portion if the head is made in two parts joined on a vertical seam. These supporting projections being in place, the two ends of the strap (say the two springs 15 and 16) are applied to the two projections respectively, care being taken to rest the movable members, such as the eyes 1 and lids 2, in the eye sockets of the head. The eyes are now set. With the devices illustrated, the weights 44 and 45 hold the movable members in such a position as to expose the eyeballs through the sockets when the doll head is held erect, and expose only, or substantially only, the lids and lashes when the doll is laid on its back. In laying the doll on its back and raising it erect again, the bridge 3 turns (virtually) in its portions of the straps.

As will be understood from the foregoing, my invention is not limited to the specific forms and perforations in the body details of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, except as appears hereinafter in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an eyeset for use in a doiis head and the like, the combination of the movable members adapted to be located and movable at eye sockets in the head, a bridge extending between said members a strap means crossing said bridge, said strap means including an elastic portion, capable of being stretched substantially lengthwise,

and means to fasten said stretched strap means to the head, across said bridge, in stretched condition so that the strap means will by its longitudinal tension draw the movable members toward the head.

2. In an eyeset for use in a dolls head and the like, the combination of the movable members adapted to be located and movable at eye sockets in the head, a bridge extending between said members, and a strap means crossing said bridge, said strap means including an elastic portion capable of being stretched substantially lengthwise and having its ends arranged for the attachment of the stretched strap means to the head, across said bridge, in stretched condition so that the strap means will by its longitudinal tension draw the movable members toward the head, said strap means being fastened to the bridge.

3. The subject matter of claim 2,-characterized by the fact that said strap means crosses 'said bridge substantially transversely of the bridge.

4. In an eyeset, the combination of the movable members adapted to be located and movable at eye sockets in the head, a bridge extending between said members, and a strap means crossing said bridge and including a body portion to which the bridge is attached, an elastic part, capable of being stretched substantially lengthwise, extending from one side of said body portion and having its end remote from said body portion arranged for attachment to the head in a manner preventing movement of said end toward said body portion, and a part extending from the other side of the body portion for attachment to the head so that the strap means will by its longitudinal tension draw the movable members toward the head.

5. In an eyeset, the combination of the movable members adapted to be located and movable at eye sockets in the head, a bridge extending between said members, and a strap means crossing said bridge and including a body portion to which the bridge is attached and elastic members, each capable of being stretched substantially lengthwise, extending away from said body portion in substantially opposite directions and substantially transversely of said bridge, the ends of said elastic members being arranged for the attachment of said strap means to the head in a stretched condition so that the strap means will by its longitudinal tension draw the movable members toward the head.

6. The subject matter of claim 4, characterized by the fact that said elastic part is a coiled spring forming a loop.

7. The subject matter of claim 5, characterized by the fact that each of said elastic members is a coiled spring formed into a loop and the two ends of each spring are attached to said body part.

8. The subject matter of claim 5, characterized by the fact that said elastic members together constitute a single coiled spring and said body portion includes loops through which said coiled spring passes and is slidable.

9. The subject matter of claim 4, characterized by the fact that the movable members are attached to said bridge for positioning thereby, the bridge is movably attached to the strap means, and a weight is attached to said bridge for positioning the bridge and thereby positioning said movable members.

16. The combination of a hollow head having eye sockets, movable members adapted to be 10- cated and movable at said sockets, a bridge extending between said members, a strap means crossing said bridge, said strap means including an elastic portion, and a pair of means, each provided directly on the wall of the head, within the head, spaced from each other and located at opposite sides of said eye sockets to carry the opposite ends of said strap means, the means of said pair being located so far apart as to hold said elastic strap means, across said bridge, in stretched condition and being located so far toward the front of the head that the said strap means will by its longitudinal tension draw said movable members toward the front of the head.

11. The subject matter of claim 10, characterized by the fact that said strap means draws said movable members into engagement with the head Walls which outline said eye sockets.

12. The subject matter of claim 10, characterized by the fact that said means carrying the strap means are located one above and another below the horizontal center lines of the two eye sockets, and substantially on a line passing midway between the two eye sockets.

13. The subject matter of claim 10, characterized by the fact that said means carrying the strap means consists of projections set into the head.

14. The subject matter of claim 1, characterized by the fact that each of said movable members includes an eye more or less spherical in form and an eyelid enclosing the appropriate part or" said eye, the eyelid having integral fingers bent over to engage the eye and an integral back strap extending over the eye at the back of the latter and provided with a projecting portion providing a perforation to receive said bridge.

15. An eye and lid construction for dolls heads and the like, comprising an eye which at least in part is substantially spherical in form and an eyelid enclosing the appropriate part of said eye and carrying said eye, the eyelid having an integral back strap extending over the eye at the back of the eye and provided with a projecting portion providing a perforation to receive a carvying member.

16. The subject matter of claim 15, charac terized by the fact that the eyeis hollow, and said lid has integral fingers bent over into the interior of the eye, to fasten the eye to the lid.

17. The combination of the subject matter of claim 15 and a carrying member for the eye and lid, said carrying member extending through the perforation in said projecting portion of the back strap, and said projecting portion being crushed to tightly engage it with the carrying member.

18. The subject matter of claim 15 characterized by the fact that said projecting portion is a member separate from the remainder of said back strap, and is riveted to said remainder of said back strap substantially at the virtual center of the eye, and is arranged for some turning movement on the rivet.

19. The subject matter of claim 1, characterized by the fact that the eyeset includes an eyelid and an eyelash therefor, the eyelid having an integral finger or fingers bent over and within itself to attach the eyelash to the lid.

20. In combination an eyelid, and an eyelash within and projecting from the eyelid, the eyelid having a finger or fingers integral with the body of the eyelid and bent over and within the body, and on the eyelash, to press the eyelash to the interior of the body of the lid.

'21. The subject matter of claim 20, in combination with an eyeball within the eyelid, a pocket or pockets for the said finger or fingers being provided in the eyeball.

DAV-ID ZAIDEN. 

